A group of bipartisan senators in the United States introduced a bill on Monday (May 19th) called the “International Nuclear Energy Act” aimed at countering the increasing influence of China and Russia in the global nuclear energy development sector.
Currently, the United States has the largest nuclear power generation capacity in the world, but China is rapidly advancing its domestic nuclear reactor construction, while Russia is negotiating cooperation agreements with countries in Southeast Asia and other regions.
The Trump administration had discussed several draft executive orders involving strengthening control over the approval of nuclear reactor projects, currently managed by an independent agency. While it is uncertain whether these orders will reach Trump’s desk, they seek to evaluate nuclear waste recycling, a process opposed by nuclear proliferation experts.
With the projected surge in electricity demand for artificial intelligence data centers in the coming years, lawmakers from both parties support nuclear power. Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Lee, along with Democratic Senators Martin Heinrich and Chris Coons, jointly introduced the bill. Nuclear energy is almost carbon-free and can provide high-paying jobs.
However, the construction of nuclear reactors often faces challenges of delays, high costs, and the generation of radioactive waste.
The bill supports establishing a dedicated agency to promote nuclear technology exports, financing, regulatory coordination, and standardization of licensing procedures. This agency will establish a special fund to finance nuclear projects closely related to national security.
Additionally, the bill mandates holding a cabinet-level Nuclear Safety and Industry Relations Summit every two years.
Risch stated in a release, “If the United States does not take a leading role in nuclear energy development, China and Russia will take the lead.” He emphasized that nuclear energy provides the U.S. with the “tools needed to compete with these authoritarian regimes.”
“To achieve America’s energy dominance, we must streamline the nuclear export process, strengthen international cooperation, and mobilize the entire U.S. industry to surpass geopolitical adversaries,” he said.